Drum holder

ABSTRACT

A holder for mounting a small musical instrument such as a tomtom on a larger musical instrument such as a bass drum. The holder is adjustable to permit selective disposition of the tomtom in any one of a plurality of different positions and is arranged to permit facilitated mounting and unmounting in such a manner as to assure that the tom-tom will be automatically repositioned in the same selected disposition during each successive mounting. The holder includes means for facilitated manual locking of the tom-tom in the mounted position.

OTHER REFERENCE? Camco Catalogjj Cameo Drum Co.,'-Qak1awn, 111., 1964, PyG 2 8 /411. pas lfi Rogers Cata1og"62 R, Roger s Drums, Cleveland, Ohio, 1962, ,Copy Gr; 2so ':.s4/41-1, (page s2 1 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner- -JohnlF. Gonzales Attorney -Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord ABSTRACT: A holder for mounting a small musical instrument'such as a tom-tom on a larger musical instrument such as v ,a-ba'ss drum. The holder is adjustable to permit selective 41 I 422 45 disposition of the tom-tom in any one of a plurality of different positions and is arranged to permit facilitated mounting and Rae-mm Cmd unmounting in such a manner as to assure that the tom-tom v; will be automatically repositioned in the same selected UNWEDSTATES PATENTS disposition during each successive amounting The holder in- 2,5 24,518 10/1950 DArcy..r......;............... 84/41 1 eludes means for facilitated manual locking of the tom-tom in 84/453( UX) the mounted position.

' Henry H. Slingerland, Jr.

Wilmette, Ill. Appl.No. 813,188

Filed [45] Patented Apr. 27, 1971 [73] As'signee United States 1 Patent Apr. 3, 1969 SlingerlandDrumCo. Niles, Ill.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs;

7 [72] Inventor [54] DRUM HOLDER 2,901,860 9/1959 Crawford.....................

DRUM nounsa BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention This invention relates to musical instruments and in particular to apparatus for mounting a first musical instrument on a second musical instrument. More specifically, the invention relates to the mounting of a small drum such as a tom-tom on a larger drum such as a bass drum.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the conventional tom-tom mounting means, astructure is provided for carrying the tom-tom on a portion of an associated instrument such as a bass drum requiring adjustment of the mounting means upon each assembly. In one form of mounting means, the tom-tom may be mountedeach time in any one of a plurality of rotational positions requiring the user to select at the time of each mounting the desired angular relationship of the tom-tom to the bass drum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention eliminates the vexatious problem of the known mounting apparatuses resulting from the requirement of adjustment of the relative drum positions each time the drums are assembled. The. present invention solves this problem in an extremely simple and economical manner while yet pennitting the assembly of the drums quickly and easily.

More specifically the invention comprehends the provision of a holder for mounting a first musical instrument such as a tom-tom on a second musical instrument such as a bass drum repetitively in a selected one of a plurality of positions. The mounting apparatus permits the first instrument to be mounted on the second instrument in substantially identical positions each time the mounting is effected. Further, the present invention comprehends providing such a mounting apparatus wherein the position of the first musical instrument relative to the second may be readily changed as desired by the user while permitting subsequent remounting to automatically conform to the newly selected changed position.

More specifically, the invention comprehends the provision .of apparatus for mounting a first musical instrument on a second musical instrument in any one of a plurality of positions comprising first socket means adapted to be fixedly mounted on the first musical instrument, second socket means adapted to be fixedly mounted on the second musical instrument, connector means having first insert means removably received in the first socket means, second insert means removably received in the second socket means, means adjustably locking the insert means in any one of a plurality of mutually angularly related positions, means retaining the first insert in the first socket means in only a single rotational disposition, and means retaining the second insert in the second socket means in only a single rotational disposition.

Further, more specifically, the invention comprehends the provision of such mounting apparatus including means providing facilitated manual locking and release of the assembly.

Still further, more specifically, the invention comprehends the provision of such a mounting apparatus wherein the insert means and socket means have interfitting portions of complementary asymmetrical cross sections to assure mounting of the first musical instrument in only one rotational disposition relative to the two instruments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention mounting a first drum on a second drum, different dispositions of the first drum relative to the second drum being illustrated in solid, broken, and dot-dash lines, respectively;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the connector means of the mounting apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section thereof taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a mounting apparatus generally designated 10 is shown adjustably mounting a first musical instrument, such as a tom-tom, 11 on a second musical instrument, such as a bass drum, 12 by a suitable adjustable securing means, herein illustratively comprising a clamp portion generally designated 13, and a ball portion I4 disposing a first insert 15 in a desired angular relationship to a second insert 16. Insert 15 includes an end portion 17 received in a socket l8 fixed to the tom-tom II and insert 16 includes an end portion 19 received in a socket 20 fixed to the bass drum 12. The insert end portion 17 is locked in the socket 18 by a suitable thumbscrew 21 and insert end portion 19 is locked in socket 20 by a suitable thumbscrew 22. Adjustment of the insertion of the insert end portion 17 into the socket 18 is effected by the provision of a collar 23 on the insert 15 which abuts the socket 18 in the assembled disposition of the tom-tom relative to the bass drum. Adjustment of the insertion of the end portion 19 of the insert 16 into the socket 20 is effected by the provision of a collar 24 on the insert 16 which abuts the socket 20 in the assembled disposition of the mounting apparatus 10 relative to the bass drum 12. Thus, clamp 13 and inserts 15 and 16 effectively define a connector generally designated 25 interfitting with the sockets I8 and 20 to provide the desirable facilitated removable mounting of the tom-tom 11 on the bass drum 12.

More specifically, the mounting apparatus 10 is arranged to permit the user to select a desired disposition of the tom-tom relative to the bass drum, secure the mounting apparatus in this disposition and then successively disassemble and reassemble the apparatus in exactly the same disposition for facilitated successive use of the drums.

More specifically, the clamp 13 includes a first clamp half 26 secured to end 28 of the insert 15 opposite end 17. Insert end 28 may be knurled and clamp half 26 may be cast about the end 28 to fixedly secure the insert to the clamp half. A plug 27 may be threaded into the end 28 to prevent casting metal flow outwardly therethrough during casting of the clamp half thereonto. Clamp 13 further includes a second clamp half 29 which cooperates with the clamp half 26 by means of suitable screws 30 and 30' to clamp onto the ball 14 and thereby secure the clamp half 26 in the desired position on the ball 14. The mounting of the clamp 13 on the ball 14 is fixed by the forceful tightening of the screws 30 and 30. Screw 30 may have a squared head 30a for manipulation by means of a conventional drum key. As shown in FIG. 3, insert 16 includes an end portion 31 opposite end portion 17 which is flattened and cast in the ball 14 to be fixedly retained therein. The end 32 of the flattened portion may be sealed as by welding to preclude flow of plastic outwardly therethrough as during molding of the ball 14 thereonto.

As shown in FIG. 5, insert 15 has an irregular external configuration defined by an indentation, or groove, 33 extending longitudinally the length of the insert from outwardly of end 28. As shown in FIG. 5, the insert may comprise a tubular member which is otherwise circular in external cross section to have a close fit in the complementary irregularly circular cross section recess 34 of socket 18 for retaining the insert against rotation therein. The thumbscrew 21 includes an inner screw portion 35 which extends through the socket 18 into the recess, 34 and may extend into the grooved indentation 33 to retain the insert in the socket means against longitudinal movement while yet permitting the insert to be longitudinally inserted into the recess 34 to the desired disposition. As discussed above, the collar 23 is mounted on the insert 15 to limit this insertion. Collar 23 may comprise a conventional split clampntype collar secured in the desired position on the insert 15 by conventional threaded means 36 provided with a suitable squared head for manipulation with a conventional drum key.

As shown in FIG. 4, insert 16 is similar to insert 15 in having an irregular external configuration defined by a longitudinal grooved indentation 37 extending from outwardly of end portion 31. End 19 of insert 16 is received in the corresponding irregular recess 38 of socket 20 to be retained thereby in a single rotational disposition and to be engaged by the inner end 39 of the thumbscrew 22 which locks insert 16 in socket 20 against longitudinal movement. Collar 24 is similar to collar 23 and is locked in the desired position on insert 16 by a similar square-headed threaded means 40.

Thus, to adjust the mounting of the tom-tom 11 on the bass drum 12, the user firstly installs the inserts l5 and 16 in their respective sockets l8 and 20 with the clamp 13 loose. With the tom-tom in the desired position, the user then tightens screws 30 and 30' to secure the clamp 13 and tightens thumbscrews 21 and 22 to secure the inserts in the respective sockets. The collars 23 and 24 may be secured in the desired disposition by tightening screws 36 and 40 to complete the securing of the mounting apparatus. Alternatively, thumbscrews 21 and 22 may be tightened prior to the securing of the clamp 13.

As shown in FIG. 1, the clamp 13 may be secured on the ball 14 in any one of a number of dispositions over a wide range such as the range illustrated by the broken and dot-dash line showing of the assembly.

When the user wishes to disassemble the drums, he need merely loosen the thumbscrew 21 permitting the tom-tom 11 to be removed from the insert 15. 1f desired, he may further remove the connector 25 from the bass drum 12 by loosening the thumbscrew 22 to permit withdrawal of the insert 16 from the socket 20. To reassemble the drums in exactly the same position, the user merely reinstalls the tom-tom on the insert by causing the insert end 17 to pass into the recess 34 of the socket 18 with the angular disposition of the socket being au tomatically restored to the original angular disposition by the interlocked association of the insert and recess configurations. The collar 23 automatically disposes the socket 18 in the original disposition axially of the insert 15. Tightening of the thumbscrew 21 then automatically resecures the tom-tom in this disposition. Where the connector 25 has been removed from the bass drum 12, reinstallation thereof on the bass drum is similarly effected by inserting the insert end 19 into the socket 20 and the thumbscrew 22 tightened to retain the insert in the socket, with the irregular insert and socket configurations providing a single rotational disposition and with collar 24 automatically disposing the insert in the same longitudinal disposition relative to the socket.

Thus, mounting apparatus 10 is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet afi'ording a positive repetitive desired adjusted mounting of the tom-tom 11 on the bass drum 12. The mounting apparatus 10 may be readily adjusted and readjusted, if desired, while yet positively maintaining the desired adjusted relationship of the tom-tom relative to the bass drum, as desired.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for mounting a first musical instrument on a second musical instrument in any one of a plurality of positions comprising:

first means defining a first socket and being adapted to be fixedly mounted on said first musical instrument, said socket having a noncircular cross section;

second means defining a second socket and being adapted to be fixedly mounted on said second musical instrument, said second socket having a noncircular cross section;

and adjustable connector means having first insert means provided with an end portion having a corresponding noncircular cross section removably received in said first means whereby said first insert means is insertable in said first socket in only a single rotational disposition, second insert means provided with an end portion having a corresponding noncircular cross section removably received in said second socket means whereby said second insert means is insertable in said second socket means in only a single rotational disposition, and means removably adjustably locking said insert means in said sockets against longitudinal movement 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connector means comprises a ball joint.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises interfitting portions of said insert means and said sockets, one of said portions having a concave cross section and the other of said portions having a convex cross section.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises screw means extending through an inwardly projecting convex portion of each said socket.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connector means includes a molded ball having one of said insert means molded thereinto, and a molded clamp having the other of said insert means molded thereinto.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said insert means have a circular cross section exteriorly said clamp half and ball into which they are molded.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said insert means are provided with means for closing the end thereof to preclude flow of molding material therethrough.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means adjustably secured to said insert means for limiting the amount of insertion of said insert means into said socket means.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connector means includes a ball and clamp portion and each insert means includes a concave portion spaced from said ball and clamp portion, said locking means comprising adjustable means carried by the socket means and engaging the insert means in said concave portion. 

1. Apparatus for mounting a first musical instrument on a second musical instrument in any one of a plurality of positions comprising: first means defining a first socket and being adapted to be fixedly mounted on said first musical instrument, said socket having a noncircular cross section; second means defining a second socket and being adapted to be fixedly mounted on said second musical instrument, said second socket having a noncircular cross section; and adjustable connector means having first insert means provided with an end portion having a corresponding noncircular cross section removably received in said first means whereby said first insert means is insertable in said first socket in only a single rotational disposition, second insert means provided with an end portion having a corresponding noncircular cross section removably received in said second socket means whereby said second insert means is insertable in said second socket means in only a single rotational disposition, and means removably adjustably locking said insert means in said sockets against longitudinal movement
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connector means comprises a ball joint.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises interfitting portions of said insert means and said sockets, one of said portions having a concave cross section and the other of said portions having a convex cross section.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises screw means extending through an inwardly projecting convex portion of each said socket.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connector means includes a molded ball having one of said insert means molded thereinto, and a molded clamp having the other of said insert means molded thereinto.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said insert means have a circular cross section exteriorly said clamp half and ball into which they are molded.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said insert means are provided with means for closing the end thereof to preclude flow of molding material therethrough.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means adjustably secured to said insert means for limiting the amount of insertion of said insert means into said socket means.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connector means includes a ball and clamp portion and each insert means includes a concave portion spaced from said ball and clamp portion, said locking means comprising adjustable means carried by the socket means and engaging the insert means in said concave portion. 